Kishor Kadam (born 9 November 1967) is an Indian actor and poet who has acted prominently in Marathi and Hindi movies. He has also acted in Tamil movies and has appeared in some television serials as well. He is a veteran Marathi poet, writing with his pseudonym 'Saumitra'. He is recipient of three Maharashtra State Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards Marathi, two Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar. Early life Kadam was born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, although his family's ancestral roots trace back to Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. He grew up in a financially stable household, which allowed him to devote considerable time to developing his craft. He later recalled that, as his family had a home in Mumbai and did not place immediate pressure on him to earn a living, he was able to spend around 16 years studying under various teachers and developing his skills without having to face significant financial hardship. He graduated in commerce before pursuing a career in the performing arts. His training included an intensive period of study under theatre director and thespian Satyadev Dubey, with whom he worked and trained for approximately 12 years.
Career Kadam began his acting career in television with Shyam Benegal's historical television series Bharat Ek Khoj (1988), in which he played the role of Press Reporter Wagle. He made his Hindi film debut with Benegal's Antarnaad (1991), followed by Mammo (1994). He made his Marathi film debut with Limited Manuski (1994). In 1995, he portrayed Rama in Amol Palekar's Bangarwadi. He subsequently appeared in the Hindi film Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (1996), in which he played Ganya.
In 1999, Kadam made his debut in an Urdu-language film with Samar, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film. In 2000, he portrayed Bhaskar Shetty in the Hindi film Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!!. The same year, he appeared in the Marathi film Dhyaas Parva, for which he received the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actor. In 2004, Kadam portrayed ACP Dangle in Anurag Kashyap's Black Friday. He later appeared as Bhujang in the 2007 Hindi film Ek Chalis Ki Last Local. He returned to television with the Marathi television series Asambhav, which aired on Zee Marathi. In 2009, Kadam played a leading role in the critically acclaimed Marathi film Ek Cup Chya, directed by Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar. The same year, he portrayed Yamnya in Jogwa, earning Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Supporting Actor. In 2010, he played Pandoba in Natarang, for which he received the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Supporting Actor.
In 2011, Kadam portrayed a reporter in the critically acclaimed Marathi film Deool. He also appeared on television as Professor Nagesh Mahajan in the series Anolkhi Disha. His subsequent film credits included Ravi Jadhav's Balak-Palak (2013), Vanshvel (2013) and Special 26 (2013). In 2014, Kadam appeared in the Marathi film Nati, the English-language film Gandhi of the Month, and Nagraj Manjule's Fandry. His performance in Fandry earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Marathi. In 2015, he appeared in Partu, for which he received his second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Marathi. Kadam made his Tamil film debut in 2017 with Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru. In 2019, he appeared in the Hindi films Section 375 and Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai?.
In 2021, Kadam returned to television with Zee Marathi's Kaay Ghadla Tya Ratri?, in which he portrayed the political character Rajan Parvate. In 2022, he appeared in Nagraj Manjule's Jhund. He was also associated with the films Godakaath and Awanchit, for which he received a National Film Award. In 2024, Kadam portrayed Tatya in Paani and Savant Karmarkar in Match Fixing. His 2025 credits included Jarann, in which he played Dr. Dhananjay Kulkarni, P. S. I. Arjun, in which he portrayed Chhabya, and Gondhal, in which he played Bhivaba. He also appeared in the ZEE5 web series Andhar Maya as Gonya. In 2026, Kadam appeared in the television series Matka King, portraying Prashant Bapat.
Filmography Films YearFilmRoleNotes1991AntarnaadShivaHindi debut1994MammoAgent RajuLimited ManuskiPrakashMarathi debut 1996SanshodhanSaumitraIs Raat Ki Subah NahinGanya1997JayateKulkarni1998SamarDalit Nathu2000Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!!Bhaskar ShettyDhyaas ParvaRaghunath Dhondo KarveMaharashtra State Film Award for Best Actor2004PandharBlack FridayInspector Bhaskar DangleShobhyatraBal Gangadhar Tilak2007TahaanKishya2008ContractorInspector DaraPhoonkDevappa2009SamaantarDr. NikumbhJogwaYamnyaZee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Supporting ActorEk Cup ChyaKashinath SawantMareparyant PhaashiJail Superintendent 2010NatarangPandobaMaharashtra State Film Award for Best Supporting ActorPratisaad: The ResponseSarjerao Patil2011Shahanpan Dega DevaDr. NairTaryanche BaitInsurance AgentBalgandharvaGanpatrao BodasDeoolMahasangramPaulwaatUsman Bhai2012Life Ki Toh Lag GayiBhosaleHa Bharat MazaBabaBokadMunim2013Balak-PalakKadamSpecial 26IqbalRela ReTribal ManTuhya Dharma KonchaBabaPareesPoliticianTouring TalkiesRaja RangeelaAnumatiRatnakar's friendFandryKachru ManeFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – MarathiVanshvelDadasahebRajjoDadi Patil2014PostcardJames KambleManjunathManjunath's fatherBhakarBhauAnvattSaibuGandhi of the MonthDaniel2015AabhraanLakhaSiddhantTeacherNilkanth MasterRaosahebHighway Ek Selfie AarparHenpecked husbandHeroShantaramGanveshMadhu's fatherPartuLakshmanFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – MarathiWagheryaSarpanch2016ChiranjeevKeshav's uncleSarpanch BhagirathShridharRetiKisanDamlelya Babachi KahaniJagan BhatkhandeChauryaKishoreGhantaaChintya BhaiAnnaAppa2017Zindagi ViratDattaKaasavYaduIdak: The GoatSarpanchTheeran Adhigaaram OndruHaram SinghTamil debutEk Maratha Lakh MarathaDattuPimpalTukaram2018GavthiGajya's fatherNudeDeanAa Bb KkAajyaBlack BudInspector Kadam2019Chhatrapati ShasanPsychoAlbert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai?Pramod NaikPurushottamSangram NimbalkarBaboMadanAdhamAnna BhosaleDitheeRamjiSection 375Justice MadgaonkarMan Udhan VaraSarita's uncleRom ComFather2021AvwanchhitMadhusudan GavhaneNational Film Award – Special Mention (feature film)JayantiMLA Gondane2022SoyrikManasi's fatherJhundFootball CoachAvasaanSahebrao Karpe PatilOperation RomeoKiran PatilDil, Dimag Aur BattiBabanGhe DoubleBhau's friendHar Har MahadevTanoji2023Ghar Banduk BiryaniMLA's PATerritoryDaroga Jiddewar2024Bastar: The Naxal StoryRajendra KarmaKarmavirayanBhaurao PatilGadiSaumitraPaaniTatya2025CinemanAnandP. S. I. ArjunChhabyaJarannDr. Dhananjay KulkarniGondhalBhivabaMatch FixingSavant Karmarkar2026Paach Footacha BachchanTBAHazaar Vela Sholay Pahilela Manus Television YearSerial NameCharacter/RoleChannel LanguageNotes1988Bharat Ek Khoj Press Reporter WagleDD National HindiEpisode No 48 Extremists and Moderates2007Asambhav Yashwantrao SaranjameZee Marathi Marathi 2011Anolkhi DishaProfessor Nagesh Mahajan Star PravahEpisode 7 Patmora 2021Kaay Ghadla Tya Ratri? Politician Rajan ParvateZee MarathiMarathi2025Andhar MayaGonyaZEE5Crime BeatPashupatiHindi2026Matka KingPrashant BapatAmazon Prime Video
Awards Kishor won critical acclaim for his performance in the lead role in Samar directed by Shyam Benegal, the film won the National Film Award for the best film in 1999. He also has acted in Natrang as Pandoba. In 2010 he won the Zee Gaurav Puraskar for best supporting actor and the Nilu Phule Sanman award.
References
External links